CHAPTER X.
MISTRESS AND MAN.
Night has returned. Clad in her monastic vestments, the abbess Merofledereclines on the lounge in the banquet hall where the evening beforeAmael was seated near her. The woman's pale face has a sinister aspect.Seated opposite her at the table lighted by a wax taper, Ricarik hadbeen writing under the dictation of the abbess.
"Madam," said Ricarik, "you need only to attach your signature to theletter for the Bishop of Nantes," and seeing that, absorbed in her ownthoughts, Meroflede did not answer, the intendant repeated in a loudervoice: "Madam, I am waiting for your signature."
Her forehead resting on her hand, her eye fixed, her bosom heaving,Meroflede said to her intendant in a slow and hollow voice: "What didBerthoald have to say this morning when you went to see him in hisprison?"
"He remained silent and somber."
The abbess rose brusquely and paced the hall in great agitation.Overpowering the storm within her breast she said to the intendant:
"Go and bring me Berthoald."
"Madam!... Is it you who issue such an order?"
"I have commanded; obey without delay."
"But the messenger whom you sent for is waiting for this letter to theBishop of Nantes. The boat is ready with its oarsmen."
"The Bishop of Nantes will receive my missive a day later. Fetch meBerthoald!"
"I obey the orders of my noble mistress."
Ricarik walked slowly towards the entrance of the hall and was about todisappear behind the curtain when, after another equally violentstruggle, Meroflede called to him: "No ... come back!" and lettingherself heavily down upon the lounge, the abbess covered her face withher hands, uttering prolonged and woeful moans that resembled thehowlings of a wounded she-wolf. The intendant drew near and waited insilence for the crisis that was convulsing his mistress to spend itself.A few seconds later the abbess rose again. Her cheeks were inflamed; hereyes shot fire, her lips curled disdainfully. "I am too weak!" shecried. "Oh, that man! that man! He shall pay dearly for what he makes mesuffer!" Again Meroflede paced the hall in violent agitation, butpresently she grew calmer, sat down upon the lounge and said to theintendant: "Read me the letter over again.... I was temporarily insane!"
The intendant read:
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"Meroflede, the maid-servant of the maid-servants of the Lord, to herbeloved father in Christ, Arsene, Bishop of the diocese of Nantes,respectful greeting. Very beloved father, the Lord has shown by awonderful miracle what terrible punishment he reserves for the wickedwho wrong him in the person of his poor hand-maids. Charles, the chiefof the Franks, contemner of all divine laws, desolator of the Church,devastator of faithful women, had the sacrilegious audacity of bestowingupon a band of his warriors the possession of this abbey, a patrimony ofGod. The chief of these adventurers summoned me outrageously to vacatethis monastery, adding that if I did not obey, he would attack us bymain force at daybreak. In order to be nearer to their damnable work,these accursed men camped over night behind one of the approaches of theabbey. But the eye of the Lord watched over us. The Almighty has knownhow to defend us against the ravishing wolf. During the night thecataracts of heaven opened with a frightful crash. The waters of theponds, miraculously swollen, swallowed up the sacrilegious warriors. Notone of them escaped the punishment of heaven! It was a terrible prodigy!Red lights shimmered at the bottom of the waves as if a mouth of hellhad opened to recover its detestable prey. The justice of the Lord beingaccomplished, the waters again became calm and limpid, and peacefullyreturned to their bed. So that, after the deluge the white dove of peaceand hope winged its flight out of the holy ark. This letter, oh, myvenerable father in Christ, is to notify you of the miracle. This freshproof of the omnipotence of the Lord will serve to edify, comfort,console and delight all pious, and terrify the impious. I close askingyour apostolic benediction."
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After Ricarik had finished reading this pious letter he again said tothe abbess: "Madam, may it please you to sign."
Meroflede took the pen and wrote at the bottom, "MEROFLEDE, ABBESS OFMERIADEK," after which she said with a satanic leer: "The Bishop ofNantes is a skilful man; he will know how to make the miracle tell; acentury hence people will speak of the prodigy to which the virgins ofthe convent of Meriadek owed their deliverance." An instant later shesaid distractedly: "The fires of hell are burning in my veins!"
"What, madam, are you still thinking of Berthoald? How strong animpression must he have made upon you!"
"What I feel for that man is a mixture of contempt, hatred and amorousfrenzy.... I am frightened at my own feelings.... No other man everinspired me with such a passion!"
"There is a very simple method of ridding yourself of these agonies....I proposed the method to you.... I am ready to apply it."
"Take care! No violence upon him! Your life answers to me for his!"
"What are your intentions?"
"I do not know what to decide upon.... One moment I wish him to undergoa thousand deaths ... the next I am ready to fall at his knees, and askpardon.... I am out of my mind ... out of my mind with love!" And theabbess wrung her hands, bit into the cushions of the lounge, and torethem with her nails in savage fury. Suddenly rising, her eyes wet withtears and glistening with passion, she cried: "Give me the key ofBerthoald's prison!"
"It is on this bunch," answered the intendant pointing to several keysthat hung from his belt.
"Give me that one quick!"
"Here it is," said the intendant, detaching a large iron key from thebunch. Meroflede took the key, contemplated it in silence, and fell intoa revery.
"Madam," said Ricarik, "I shall order the messenger in waiting to departwith your letter to the Bishop of Nantes."
"Go.... Go.... Take the letter and return!"
"I shall also take a look at the old goldsmith's shop.... He is to castthe large silver vase to-day!"
"Oh! What do I care!"
"There is a vague suspicion in my mind. I imagined this morning Inoticed a sign of embarrassment on the face of the wily old man. He toldme he was to lock himself in the whole day. I suspect he has a plot withhis apprentices to pilfer a portion of the metal. He also notified methe casting would not commence until night. I wish to see how it isdone. I shall then come back, madam. Have you any other orders for me,my abbess?"
Meroflede remained plunged in revery, holding in her hand the key ofAmael's prison. After a few seconds of silence, and without raising hereyes that remained fixed upon the floor, she said to the intendant:
"When you go out, tell Madeleine to bring me my cloak and a lightedlamp."
"Your cloak, madam? Do you expect to go out? Do you need it to go toBerthoald in his prison----?"
Meroflede interrupted the intendant by stamping her foot in a rage, andpointed him to the door with an imperious gesture, saying:
"Begone, vile slave!"